Party animals, pub owners, BPO crowd that sees the light of day at night, IT fraternity, students, tourists in a city that's a transit lounge - they all want it. A nightlife that actually lives up at night, not one that goes to sleep well before the Cindrella hour. All those who venture out with the owls, not just for a drink, but for a late dinner, some music and some dance agree the 11.30 pm closure deadline is unreasonable, considering the city's cosmopolitan character.

Interestingly, the police claim there are no representations from the industry to extend the deadline yet and the government cannot take a suo motu action to extend the deadline. And so, Bangalore goes to sleep before the night actually begins. There was a proposal last year to extend the deadline to 1.30 pm like in several other Indian cities like Pune and Mumbai. Former tourism secretary I M Vittala Murthy proposed this during his tenure "in the interest of the travelling public and tourists" and to give the feeling that it is a "city of the youth".

Bangalore has a large youth population, thanks to migration into the city for IT/BPO jobs and the large student community. When youth work late night, they need places to unwind. "Moreover, young people are more mature these days and extending the deadline beyond 11.30 pm does not mean people will get drunk and indulge in immoral activities," said Murthy.

The ban on keeping establishments open beyond 11.30 pm is on places that serve liquor. But Bangalore shuts down by that time, including entertainment places and restaurants. Murthy said extending the deadline does not damage a city's life. "Bangalore is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and it does not make sense to call it metropolitan if such an early deadline is imposed," he said.

Proliferating pubs once earned Bangalore the tag of Pub City. The moral police says these establishments cause immorality to increase among the youth. But it is up to law-enforcing authorities to decide on what the nightlife of a city should consist of, said Murthy. "A longer night does not necessarily lead to people getting drunk," he added.

State tourism officials agree that keeping the lights on longer will develop the industry, encourage employment and ensure safety. But then, it's claimed that there aren't enough cops to enforce the law in case the deadline is extended. The new government is just warming up to its job, the budget is only just out and the files are yet to be looked into on the matter, say tourism officials.

It's rockin' elsewhere

Though one of the fastest growing cities in the world, Bangalore is way behind cities like New York and Madrid, or even Mumbai and Pune, closer homePubs and eateries in New York stay open as late as 3-4 am. Tourist guides to Madrid, Spain warn travellers that unless they want to be the only ones inside a club, they should not step into one till at least 1.30 am! Most establishments are open till even 6 am, truly a city that never sleeps.

Paris is relatively subdued but the world's fashion capital has a swinging nightlife that extends to early next morning. Bangkok, famous for several other tourist attractions, has an official deadline of 2 am but several restaurants, bars and clubs are open till much later. Metros like Pune are open till 12.30 am, though the moral brigade often talks of shutting down joints much earlier. Mumbai's 1.30 am deadline leaves the city's party crowd of celebs and jet-setters fretting and fuming.

Delhi, reputed to have the best nightlife in the country, has places open till 2 am but the 9 pm deadline for shops leaves roads rather deserted and club-hopping can be fraught with danger. Kolkata's laws prohibit serving liquor after 10.30 pm but that doesn't stop several bars and restaurants from being open till even 2 am.